There is no better time to visit Texas Hill Country than in springtime. With the help of the spring rains the wildflowers bloom around the towns and along the highways. The temperatures are mild this time of year and great to enjoy all the festivals that are happening.

We visited Texas Hill Country during a long weekend holiday last year with friends. It was a fun and enjoyable journey filled with very picturesque scenes and cool adventures. The trip gave us a different perspective of Texas and it’s cultural heritage. Definitely a MUST do road trip if you are in the South. Aside from the beautiful scenery as you drive all throughout the hills; did I mention, plenty of vineyards and wines to choose from, too?

Take a look at some areas we’ve visited:

Fredericksburg Downtown Stroll – Main St.

You gotta have a stroll on the Main Street in Fredericksburg! What a little charmer in the middle of Texas… lots of shops, restaurants, art galleries, and wine-tasting rooms.

Main St. FredericksburgWine. Spirit. Popcorn. HA!!! There’s something for the whole family:)

Horseshoe Bend is definitely one of the most amazing natural wonders in the world. Yes, you want to visit to see it’s unique beauty. Yes, it is so worth the trip and the hike. And yes, you wanted to take photos…. a lot of them. However, you probably didn’t realize how dangerous it may be to get that perfect shot.

Well… I was so excited to visit this place after looking at all the photos on social media, I had this plan in my head on how to get that perfect shot; I would have this perfect pose, that perfect angle, and of course with the perfect lighting. Oh boy…. little did I think that to get that perfect shot, I would have to be on an uneven surface with slippery footing on the edge of a cliff with a 1000ft (305M) drop on the other side. I do have a bit of a fear of heights but more so for my kids’ safety… I had 2 fearless kids with me on this trip who, by the way, didn’t hesitate to stand on the edge of this 1000ft cliff. I also have an adventurous husband who, by the way, may be very analytical but when it comes to adventures, he seems to have lost the logical part of his brain. I was hysterical… well… I was really nervous!

So, after walking in a sandy desert trail with nothing much to see. We finally stopped on the edge of the cliff… no signs, no warnings, no hand railings. And then, I heard my kids shouted, “OMG!!!”.

The famous, Horseshoe BendYup… I got that hibbie jibbies feelingMy hubby with my boy… He first went to Dad and I was surprised since he is a very cautious person.

I have seen so many photos of Bryce Canyon over the years and always thought the canyon was really beautiful. But you know, more often than not, the place sometimes just doesn’t live up to what you have seen in photos (thanks to photoshop). Well… Bryce Canyon is totally the opposite. Photographs just don’t do it any justice. But yes…photos show beautiful scenery but when you visit this place, it will not only show you it’s beauty but it will make you feel the presence of old-time past and will leave you breathless. There is no place like Bryce Canyon!!!

When you visit this place, be prepared to be mesmerized. The Hoodoos, odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion, are so beautiful. Hoodoos can be found in other places, but the Bryce Canyon National Park has the largest collection of hoodoos in the world.

AMPHITHEATER

The Bryce Amphitheater area is the most visited part of the park since it has very convenient access and contains many of the most famous formations. My family spent few hours in this area and we wish we had more time to explore. But we did the most of our time.

The Manjuyod White Sandbar in the Philippines has gained a lot of popularity in the media lately and it has been dubbed as the “Maldives of the Philippines”. If you are dreaming of a powdery white sand, crystal clear water, fresh ocean air, beautiful corals and fresh seafood then this is the place.

I grew up in the beautiful and peaceful island of Negros Oriental where the Manjuyod White Sandbar is located. The past few years I have been planning to go back home to visit my family. This summer I, fortunately, got to visit them and also had the chance to visit this wonderful place that everyone has been talking about.

Glamping or glamorous camping has been a huge phenomenon lately. I was first introduced to this word from a South African friend who went glamping around the South of France. Well, yes… it’s camping without sacrificing the luxury and comfort of a hotel or resort.

My kids went glamping at the Ritz Carlton, Denver this Thanksgiving. Ritz Carlton, Denver is located in Larimer Square, Denver’s most historic block right in the heart of the Mile High City. You are probably thinking and asking yourself, “Glamping, how so? Isn’t Ritz Carlton a luxury city hotel?” Curious now? Keep on reading…

The Ritz Carlton is a luxury hotel which doesn’t discriminate the little ones. They love them and treat them special, just like the grown-ups, from check-in until checkout.

Check-in counter for the little ones:) How cool is that?!? My kids must have sneaked off with a dozen of those sweets. And, thank you to Bradley Kestler for a smooth check in and check out.

Yesterday was the first day of fall and the Plano Balloon Festival was the perfect activity to welcome in the season.

Plano has been our home for the past 8 years and the Plano Balloon Festival is one of the more famous events in this city which visitors to the Dallas Metroplex should come and witness. This year mark’s its 38th year. How amazing is that!!! The festival activities vary each year but it is always guaranteed to be fun for the whole family. This 3-day festival is held at Oak Point Park.

Have you been to the Plano Balloon Festival? If not, go and see it for yourself tonight for the Balloon Glow and Spectacular Fireworks!!! Check out the schedule here.

We had a blast and here are some of the photos and videos we took from last night.

Are you celebrating something special? Looking to spend some quality time with your special one but you have kids and you want them to celebrate with you? Well then, there is nothing quite like a relaxing, peaceful and luxurious experience at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas. And guaranteed the kids will have a blast, too.

We like the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts as a brand simply because of their superb accommodations, high-end amenities, exemplary service; the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas exemplifies all of these and more. They are very friendly and welcoming to all ages, definitely a fabulous place for families to enjoy a laid-back weekend getaway. My family stayed there for my husband’s birthday. It was the weekend just after the school start so I thought of treating him with a staycation, somewhere as amazing and special as him. I couldn’t have found a place more perfect than the Four Seasons. Here are some of the things that we loved about this resort.

My kids are adventurous by nature, but I guess most kids are. When I told them we were going to ride horses up a volcano, they basically scream with excitement. I am sure they didn’t know much of what they were going to see but I know for sure that they wanted to see a volcano, a first for them. And when I said we are going to one of the smallest volcanoes in the world, they kept quiet. And I left it at that.

Well… would you dare to trek up even the smallest active volcano is the world? It has been recorded to have erupted 33 times and the last eruption was 40 years ago, which is probably why people don’t hesitate to visit this beautiful tiny beast. If you are interested to know about our experience then continue reading and if you happen to have a daring kind of personality then hit me up and I would love to help you plan your next volcano adventure.

Inside the Taal Volcano Crater

LOCATION

About 40 miles south of Manila, you will find the town of Talisay, which is where most people get a boat ride across the lake to the base of the Taal Volcano. Traffic getting out of Manila can be heavy so your best bet is to get on the road as early as possible. A day trip to Taal is about the best adventure you can do if you have an extra day and want to get out of the hustle and bustle in Manila.

St. Marteen/ St. Martin is a unique island in the Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean. The island is shared with the Dutch side in the South and the French side in the North. We got a last minute opportunity to stay on this beautiful island for a week recently. My hubby got given short notice of a business trip to the island and the rest of us jumped at the chance of going too. It was one of those trips where you have nothing planned and no agenda but have an amazing time and get to see a lot of new things. You know, sometimes unplanned adventures can be some of the best ones.

The island is no doubt a perfect place for families with kids. We love destinations that have gorgeous resorts but also have tons of things to see and do outside the resort. We travel to see new things/ places but bottom line we wanted to introduce the kids to a new culture, try new food, make new friends and experience a different way of life. So, we decided to stay 3 nights on the Dutch side and 3 nights on the French side to see what both sides can offer.

Our Stay in St. Marteen

We stayed at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort on the Dutch side of the island. Maho Beach is famous for its beautiful white sand beach and proximity to the airport runway, in which makes it to one of the coolest beaches in the world. Please click here for Beautiful Beaches of St. Marteen and St. Martin.

This resort is best for families with kids and for people who are looking for an all-inclusive property.

St. Marteen and St. Martin offers a lot of things for travelers and the beaches won’t disappoint you. Like most Caribbean islands, it’s a destination to relax, enjoy the sand, sun, and crystal clear blue waters. These are some of the beaches that we visited during our stay.

Maho Beach

Famous for its beautiful white sand beach and proximity to the airport runway, in which makes it to one of the coolest beaches in the world. People come here to chill and relax but some also come here to get an adrenaline rush. Airplanes fly so low over the beach, you almost can reach out and touch them. Thrill-seekers think the airplanes flying low over Maho Beach is awesome and I thought so too. However, be aware, as two pilots from Delta Airlines told me on our first night, it is extremely dangerous and people have been hurt. For me, it was one of those parent decisions you have to make and as I had the kids with me I decided to just experience it safely from a little further along the beach. The Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, where we stayed at, also gives a good vantage point of the airplanes landing and all those people holding on to the fence; you even get to see some blown away into the water 🙂

ABOUT ME

Call me BonBon... I am a mom of 2 beautiful toddlers. My family loves to discover new things near and far... So, I am here to inspire your whole family to travel, to get out of your comfort zone and to explore this wonderful world. And, I am here to help you get started:) Stay in touch!!!